It is sunset in Gion, the geisha district in Kyoto. Red lanterns sway in the breeze. Beautifully dressed geisha hurry to their appointments. We are sitting in a Japanese restaurant so exclusive it doesn’t even have a name. A slew of dishes, each more esoteric than the last, appear. There is young tofu; rice balls specked with black sesame seeds; translucent soups with unidentified floating objects; and wobbly substances containing ingredients that we can only speculate on.

Mint Lounge’s New Year issue is based on a great premise: new experiences. Lots of great stories: adopting a stray, rainwater harvesting, grieving your parents, being a mentor, taking trips, finding yourself. Read it here. My contribution below and here. Thanks, Seiichi Chadha and Michi Travel for arranging this trip. New Year Ideas | Immerse…

What woman can’t use some lessons in feminine allure? Shoba Narayan travels to Kyoto to pick up some tips from the mastersthe city’s renowned geishas. Trust usthere’s much more to Japan’s most enduring icons than white face-paint and a bee-stung pout